Imaging apparatus with autofocus control based on movement tendency

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor that captures a subject image formed via an optical system to generate image data; a controller that controls an autofocus operation to focus the optical system; and an image recognizer that identifies, based on the image data, information including a class of a subject in an image shown by the image data, wherein the controller acquires the information identified by the image recognizer to automatically set a parameter indicating characteristics of the autofocus operation, based on a tendency to be estimated as possibility for the subject of the identified class to move on the image.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
 an image sensor that captures a subject image formed via an optical system to generate image data; 
 a controller that controls an autofocus operation to focus the optical system; and 
 an image recognizer that identifies, based on the image data, a class of a subject in an image shown by the image data, from among a plurality of different classes of a subject, each of the different classes of a subject having associated therewith a corresponding movement property indicative of an ability of a subject within the class to move within the image shown by the image data, 
 wherein the controller acquires the class of the subject identified by the image recognizer, and 
 automatically set a parameter indicating characteristics of the autofocus operation, based on the movement property associated with the class of the subject of the identified by the image recognizer. 
 
     
     
       2. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller estimates a tendency of the subject to move on the image, based on the class of subject identified by the image recognizer and information set in the imaging apparatus, and
 the controller automatically sets the parameter of the autofocus operation, based on an estimation result of the tendency. 
 
     
     
       3. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller calculates a movement amount indicating the estimation result of the tendency, based on a size of the subject on the image and the class of the subject that are identified by the image recognizer, and a focal length and a focus position set in the imaging apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller performs, based on the automatically set parameter, the autofocus operation with the characteristics indicated by the parameter being used on a response when the subject moves during performance of the autofocus operation. 
     
     
       5. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the image recognizer further identifies a scene in which the image shown by the image data is captured, and
 the controller automatically sets the parameter of the autofocus operation, based on an estimated possibility for the subject to move in the scene identified by the image recognizer. 
 
     
     
       6. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the parameter includes at least one of: sensitivity with which the focus position is made to track in the autofocus operation; sensitivity with which an area as a focus target is switched in the autofocus operation; or a degree to use movement prediction of the subject, in the autofocus operation. 
     
     
       7. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an operation interface that receives an operation to select whether the parameter is automatically set or is set by a user operation.